A group of 480 women of reproductive ages received 480 dignity kits from a national nongovernmental organization in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State on Thursday.
The 480 dignity kits were distributed to returnees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and the host community.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the Procurement Logistics Assistant for Hope Africa South Sudan (HASS), Aweng Bol, revealed that her organization is targeting 480 women and girls as beneficiaries in Aweil North and Aweil West counties because they host a large number of returnees who fled the ongoing war in Sudan.
“We are distributing the sanitary kits to the vulnerable females which include women and girls who are internally displaced, returnees, and the host community. The total number of beneficiaries we are targeting in Aweil West County and Aweil North County is 480,” said Bol. “This exercise is very important because some young ladies and girls cannot afford to buy sanitary pads during their monthly periods and yet it is a must for them to have such protective materials.”
One of the female returnees who just arrived from Sudan, Veronica Awit Wieu, said she was grateful to receive the items.
“I am currently living in the Maduany area and I appreciate the organization for distributing the items to women and girls,” she stated.
Another beneficiary from the host community, Awein Mawein, also expressed her gratitude for being given the dignity kits.
“I am very happy to receive the kits and thank the organization because we cannot afford them,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Ajak Ngor Nuthin, the Director General at the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, commended Hope Africa South Sudan for its continuous assistance to women and girls in the state.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, we are happy that Hope Africa South Sudan is cooperating with us and that is why they managed to bring the dignity kits for women and young girls to protect them when they have periods,” she lauded.
Hope Africa South Sudan is implementing the provision of emergency protection support services for returnees, IDPs and the vulnerable host community in Aweil West and Aweil North Counties.
This project is implemented in partnership with IOM-RRF through support from USAID in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. This is possible through coordination and support from the GBV AoR South Sudan.
The project has four components such as Community Awareness on ending Gender Based Violence, Provision of dignity kits to women and girls or reproductive age, Economic Empowerment and Establishment of 2 Women and Girls’ Friendly Spaces, Case Management services in Wedwiel, Aweil West County and in Ariath, Aweil North County.